The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-04-13
THELIFE PRISONER

THE LlF E PhlSONEh
We et ~hireuue over "a s,auty fire one
sunday afternoon iu tle large. bare oI'9a
or Pur.-.u p3,a.a o., t44aBs. Nellie
dreaded "a certain church where, for the
benefit of hearing pure French, as wellas
fsr fae good Of her soul. she vowed D.
Ic.ole the unocclpird hours of the sab
bath
Who viii eo ui.h me 10 "a -icrcd con-
oere , sa.l. turning 90 scrupulous
American .ady. whose chaperonage ]
ln.u d. be- essential 20 propriety, and for
whose sole benefit ! actually used the
uorl sacred.
j know welI ihat the classic mona1.
with which Plsicloup and hl- orchestra
would delight mynu-ic lowing soul might 4
noI bee. strictly speaking. conducive 10 q
religious oscillation Cd, sentiment
Nellie. of ellr-r rss-rlv as~-ntel, and '
our p.r.ui cliaperon. Mrs Jonathan How
e8 by name. wa- soon won over 10 our
eil-e
So it ua- duly settled and we sci
forth
Finding ourselves d iittle behind time
as Ne neared Che Iheurg ju Chateiet
whora our spirits were b. be elevated oH
the wing, of harmony We entered
hastily. nos even glancinc once O.; th-
program.
The gcnuemanly Young man who made .
room for us in the box looked impa-Siyo
while horror amusement and DISCUS
were depicted on our faces. For what
horror of horrons Was presented to our
eyes-a ballet in all tine gorgeous un
dress of Partisan taste,
We will go out 90 oncer exclaimed
Mrs Howell. while Nellie begged for 81
m0ments rest after the long walk.
ID WAS easy tosee how the mistake hap
pened In our haste we had failed ta
tice the postponement OF the conceu
and Pasieloup and his army Of musi-
cians were at tnu moment bewitchin
provincial ear,
Now, my dear7, bet us ~ At once.
and We eill take voiiure if you are So
tired4
oh. Mrs. Howell. nay purse /, gone
sand Nellie, looking sharply al tne young
man at her side. ~ ! ana .ur., she adde.,
10 much lower tone. this fellow has
taken it,
Bm he looks toa respectable for
thief, SAID h.
ana certain oI b. she continued.
for let his hand close 90 my pock,l
And see hoN guilty he looks
The poor accused youth was it is uu.,
looking woudeungiy at the pretty, husu-
ed face near him. bui failed to detect
ga b in the s,it brown eye and mild ex-
preston.
by dear. Dee quite -urs you bad y"ur
purse With you be.on. you make such ID
harsh statement -dd Mr. Howell
oh. ] am quite sure. remember run
ming back 90 the last moment and search
ing well before found b. What could
be more convincing?
Then my dear If there was sum If
amy consequence in 81. We viii have this
person examined before an officer of the
police said Nrs Howell. in a decidcd
tome.
Forthwith J dispatched 10 bring eirg ..
a r.i, the ius-y little old woman with
streaming pink cap-riobons, who, To-,
apnoar Show theatn--eoer- their plares,
tucss ID f'-t -,7.'o- under their .eet ana pre-
sides over their welfare generally.
After d Jew uncomfortable moments
during which thc object of an our inter
est complaccntly watched the progres of
am entre-acie, the little woman came
back, followed by "a ciyil-lookiug man.
who tapped our victim ON the shoulder
and requested his presence al the nearest
saniauneric
Ne followed. Nellie looking uer, oils
bui determined. evideutly ly convinced jhai
Deer resolution ou this occasion Wouit Doe
rewarded
We crossed the -ln.e. ami entered tn.
lornialne doors ul that terror OF gaulin-.
toe police 81 .ti1n. and the DOW enlirh,eu-
ed young man. after iew questions from
the oliioer. permitted, without the l,.l,,
reluc,ance. an examination of his 1.rl-
ets
noticed rresi on the delicate. blue
silk handkerchief and the Russian
leather pockrtbook which the ofacer
ruthles.iy in.w io light. bui no l.ar-.
vas found
With none than ordinary French Do
ltcnes-, the accused oppressed hi, d. ...r..i
that maiemoisciie bad been derangc! b.,
the occurrence. aud with only very
mildly reproachiui glance ami bow. lea
ihe room.
We also started ou our homeward 3ay.
not little mysiided by ibe affair.
A solution awaited o., on enieriu. ouf
salon. for there lay the purse where. ju-
ior an instant. ii had been laid by mao.
emoiseile while she gave "a highly inn
portant pat 70 the little cur, around
her lace. ami i.reati iilt 10 her hat.
The next morning an Apologize no,,
that Nellie had written with downc,~,
air was conveyed 10 It's destination b,
means Of the address that the officer had
taken down, and the unpleasantn,s, wa.
dismissed from our conversation. II uo.
entirely iroln our minds
Nearly two years later. at the close of .
long summer day. se found ourselge, ia
little cultivated bit ofground that seem
ed 60 cling b. the rugged side of u sWis
mountain. A succession of sccnes am,
impressions, ever nea io mind attune
u nature, had so beguied us thai befon,
We commenced The descent 10 our hois-
The deep shadows Of night were closin,
fast about u